The owner of the Big Hops bar and restaurant chain in San Antonio has filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against a Pittsburgh brewer that makes beers bearing the Big Hop name.

Big Hops owner J&J Martindale Ventures LLC received a trademark for Big Hops last year. Pittsburgh-based East End Brewing Co. Inc. earlier this year sought to trademark Big Hop, but the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office rejected the application. The federal agency ruled the marks are “virtually identical” and may lead to a “likelihood of confusion.” East End maintains it has used Big Hop for its beers since at least 2004.

Concerned East End might challenge the Big Hops trademark, J&J sued in federal court seeking a ruling that the San Antonio company can use the name everywhere in the United States save for the Pittsburgh area.

Go to ExpressNews.com or Friday’s Business section to read more about the dispute.